News - Middle East: The American magazine The National Interest has revealed that the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson has returned to its home base in Hawaii, concluding what was its longest mission since the start of the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip in 2023.

In its latest report, the magazine expressed surprise at the absence of the US Navy from the Red Sea, which it described as the most active conflict zone in the region at present.

Although the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier had been deployed to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations, it reportedly did not take part in any active missions during its time there.

The National Interest also noted that the U.S has not maintained a continuous aircraft carrier presence in the Red Sea since the USS Harry S. Truman departed in May—this despite ongoing intensive Yemeni military operations targeting vessels bound for Israeli ports.

In a related development, the Yemeni Armed Forces confirmed they had successfully neutralized the US naval presence in the Red Sea. This, they stated, came as part of their support operations for Gaza and its steadfast resistance.

The Yemeni military said that a series of intense operations involving ballistic missiles, drones, and unmanned naval boats had compelled US President Donald Trump to announce an agreement that ultimately ended the aggression on Yemen and led to the full withdrawal of American aircraft carriers, destroyers, and naval forces from the region.

Since the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, the Red Sea has become a critical flashpoint in the broader regional conflict. Yemen’s Armed Forces declared their military support for Gaza and began targeting Israel-linked shipping lanes and vessels passing through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and Gulf of Aden.

In response, the United States deployed significant naval assets—including aircraft carriers and destroyers—to the region under the pretext of protecting commercial navigation. However, Yemeni forces, leveraging an increasingly advanced arsenal of ballistic missiles, drones, and unmanned naval boats, began targeting US and Israeli interests.

One of the most notable developments was Yemen’s successful targeting of high-value naval assets, including  strikes on US aircraft carriers. These operations reportedly led to a shift in US strategy, culminating in the withdrawal of key assets such as the USS Harry S. Truman and, most recently, the USS Carl Vinson.

The US withdrawal is widely viewed as a significant strategic setback, particularly as it comes amidst continued Yemeni military operations and a tightening blockade on maritime access to Israeli ports. Yemeni officials have hailed the retreat as a victory for the resistance and a direct result of their deterrence operations.

As the US Navy scales back its presence in one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors, questions are growing about Washington’s ability to maintain dominance in the region, especially in the face of sustained asymmetric warfare from Yemen—an impoverished nation that has endured years of war, blockade, and foreign intervention.